High pressure gas compressor



March 23, 1937. J. H. FEASTER 2,074,543

HIGH PRESSURE GAS COMPRESSOR Filed Marh 27, 1955 I M BY 2 5 a N o r ATTOR Y.

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT HIGH PRESSURE GAS COMPRESSOR Iowa.

Application March 27, 1935, Serial No. 13,251

3 Claims.

The principal object of my invention is to pro vide an air or like compressing apparatus that is capable of compressing such fluids to extremely high pressure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fluid compressing apparatus that gives a comparatively even, uniform flow to the medium being compressed.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an automatic hydraulic type air compressor that requires little if any attention from the owner or operator.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an eflicient air or like compressor that is economical in manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts no of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my complete apparatus ready for installation and use.

" Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the device taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal side-sectional view of one of the air or like compressing cylin- CO ders.

Fig. 4 is a side View of a portion of the electromagnet valve actuating mechanism.

There are many air compressors now in general use, but most of these compressors are capable of only compressing air to a pressure less than one m hundred pounds to the square inch. There are,

however, many uses for high pressure compressors and it is to fill such needs that I have provided the compressor which I will now describe.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates the driven shaft housing which is of barrel construction. The numeral II designates the driven shaft suitably journaled on the housing It and extending through the same at a point near its center, as shown in the drawing.

The numeral I2 designates a gear on the shaft II for connecting it to any suitable prime mover.

Obviously, this shaft II can be operatively connected in any suitable manner to any appropriate 50 prime mover. In order that the shaft II will rotate with a minimum of friction it may be bearinged in ball or roller bearings I3, as shown in Fig. 2. The numeral I4 designates an eccentric of substantial length inside the housing Ill and 51 rigidly secured to the shaft I I. Loosely surrounding this eccentric I4 is a sleeve or collar I5. Between the sleeve I5 and eccentric M may be roller bearings I6, as shown in Fig. 2. The numerals II and I8 designate two spaced apart cylinders extending horizontally from the side of the housing 5 ID. The numerals I9 and designate two similar spaced apart horizontal cylinders extending from the housing I I], but these last-mentioned cylinders extend diametrically opposite from that of the cylinders I! and I8, as shown in Fig. 1. 10

These cylinders provide two pairs of opposed cylinders on the housing It, all resting in the same horizontal plane, but it is obvious that a greater number of cylinders or a lesser number of cylinders can be used. Slidably mounted in 15 each of these comparatively small cylinders is a piston 2I, which is of elongated rod construction extending into the housing It and slidably engaging the periphery of the sleeve I5, as shown in Fig. 2. Rigidly secured to the outer ends of the 0 cylinders I1 and I8 is a block 22. A similar block 23 is secured to the outer ends of the cylinders I9 and 20, as shown in Fig. 1. Each of these blocks has an upper horizontal passageway 24, and a lower horizontal passageway 25. A pas- 25 sageway 26 communicates with the inside head of each of the cylinders I1, I 8, I9 and 20 and with the passageways 24 in the blocks 22 and 23, as shown inFig. 2. In each of these four passageways 26 is a ball valve 21 for preventing the pas- 30 sage of a fluid from the passageways 24 into the cylinders, but permitting the passage of a fluid from the cylinders into the two passageways 24. In order that the valve ball 2'! will normally be resting in its valve seat by force of gravity, the passageways 26 extend downwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. The numeral 28 designates a passageway communicating with the inside head of each of the cylinders I'I, I8, I9 and 20 and with the passageways 25 in the blocks 22 and 23. Each of 40 these four passageways 28 has a ball valve 29 for permitting fluid to pass from the passageways 25 into the heads of the cylinders and for preventing fluid to pass from the heads of the cylinders back into the passageways 25. Each of these passage- Ways 28 extends upwardly in order that the ball valves 29 will be normally seated by the force of gravity. By this arrangement of parts, the passageways 24 and 25 in the block 22 will have valved communication with the heads of the cylinders I1 and I8, and the passageways 24 and 25 in the block 23 will have valved communication with the heads of the cylinders I 9 and 20.

The numeral 30 designates a leak-proof head of suitab e material on the outer end of each. of the pistons 2|. The numeral 3| designates a coil spring for yieldingly holding each of the pistons 2| in engagement with the eccentric sleeve l5, as shown in Fig. 2. By this arrangement of parts when the shaft II is rotated the eccentric M will be rotated, which will cause the reciprocation of the pistons 2|, resulting in fluid being pulled into the heads of the cylinders from the fluid supply passageways and then expelled from the heads of the cylinders through the passageways 26 and into the pressure passageways 24 in the blocks 22 and 23.

The numeral 32 designates a comparatively large air cylinder having a communicating cylinder 33 of lesser diameter near its inner end center, as shown in Fig. 3. The numeral 34 designates a similar air cylinder having a similar communicating cylinder 35 of smaller diameter and at a point near its inner end center. These cylinders 32, 33, 34 and 35 are arranged in the same plane and longitudinally of each other, as shown in Fig. 1. The inner ends of the cylinders 33 and 35 are connected together by a fitting 36. The numeral 31 designates a piston of rod construction slidably mounted in each of the cylinders 33 and 35. The numeral 38 designates a head on each of the pistons 31 operating in the air cylinder integrally formed on the cylinder in which the piston reciprocates. On the other end of each of the pistons 31 is a compression sealing head 39 of suitable material. The numeral 40 designates a coil spring in each of the cylinders 32 and 34 having one end engaging the inside outer end of the cylinder and its other end engaging a piston head 38 for yieldingly holding the pistons 3'! toward the fitting 36. The numeral 4| designates a metallic plate secured on and insulated from each of the piston heads 38, as shown in Fig. 3.

The numerals 42 and 43 designate two electrical contact points insulated from and extending through the outer end of each of the cylinders 32 and 34. These contact points of each cylinder are capable of being engaged by a plate 4| for electrically connecting them when the piston operating in the cylinder has been forced to its extreme sliding movement away from the fitting 36. From the above, it will be noted that the cylinders 32 and 33 and the cylinders 34 and 35 and their attendant parts are substantially equal duplicates of each other. The connection 36 is in the form of a four-way valve having a rotatable portion 44. This rotatable portion 44 has twov passageways 45 and 46 that extend completely through it, as shown in Fig. 3. The passageway 45 in the rotatable portion 44 terminates at points approximately ninety degrees apart on the circular periphery of the rotatable portion. This. is also true of the passageway 46 and by this arrangement, which is shown in Fig. 3, there will be a passageway opening every ninety degrees around the periphery of the rotatable portion 44. The numeral 4'l designates a passageway in the fixed portion of the fitting 36, having one end communicating with the inside of the cylinder 33 and its other end communicating with the rotatable portion 44 and capable of registering with any of the passageway openings of the passageways 45 and 46. The numeral 48 designates a similar passageway in the member 36 having one end communicating with the inside of the cylinder 35 and its other end communicating with the rotatable portion 44 and capable of registering with any one of the passageway openings of the passageways 45 and 46. The numeral 49 designates a passageway in the member 36 having one end communicating with the rotatable portion 44 and capable of registering with any one of the passageway openings of the passageways 45 and 46.

The numeral 56 designates a passageway in the member 36 having one end communicating with the rotatable portion 44 and capable of registering with any one of the passageway openings of the passageways 45 and 46. These passageways 41, 48, 48 and 5D communicate with the rotatable portion 44 at four equally spaced apart points around the periphery of the rotatable portion 44, as shown in Fig. 3, and are capable of registering with the four passageway openings of the two passageways 45 and 46. The numeral 5| designates pipe fittings connecting the passageways 24 in the blocks 22 and 23 with the passageway 49 in the member 36. The numeral 52 designates pipe fittings connecting the passageways 25 in the blocks 22 and 23 with the passageway in the member 36. The numeral 53 designates a ratchet toothed gear secured to the rotatable portion 44. The numeral 54 designates an electromagnet having the core 55. The numeral 56 designates an arm pivoted between its two ends and capable of being moved to a position where its upper end will engage the electromagnet core 55. The numeral 51 designates a coil spring for yieldingly holding the arm 56 out of engagement with the core 55. The numeral 58 designates a ratchet arm pivotally secured to the lower end of the arm 56 and its toothed length riding on the ratchet gear 53, as shown in Fig. 4. The numeral 59 designates an electric lead wire connecting the two contact point elements 42 with one of the contact points of the electromagnet 54. The numeral 60 designates a lead wire extending from each of the contact point elements 43 to a source of electrical energy not shown. The numeral 6| designates a pipe or like communicating with the outer inside end of each of the cylinders 32 and 34. These pipes or like 6| are designed to lead to the point of use of the compressed air or to the compressed fluid storage tank or like and are each provided by an imposed ball valve 62 which permits the air to pass out of the cylinders, through the pipes 6|, but prevents any air from entering the cylinders through such pipes.

The numeral 63 designates a ball valve in the outer end of each of the cylinders 32 and 34. These valves 63 permit air from the outside atmosphere to enter the cylinders, but prevent air from passing out of the cylinders, as shown in Fig. 3.

The practical operation of the device is as follows: A fluid, preferably a liquid such as readily fiowable oil is placed in the device to fill up the passageways 24, 25, 26 and 28, cylinders l1, |8, H3, 28, 33 and 35, the pipe fittings 5| and 52, and the member 36 and its rotatable .portion. With the device so supplied and filled with a suitable liquid the shaft is rotated by any suitable prime mover. The rotation of the shaft M will rotate the eccentric I4, reciprocating the pistons 2|. This reciprocation of the four pistons 2| will draw the liquid from the passageways 25 through the passageways 28 as they move inwardly toward the eccentric. This particular action of the inward movement of the pistons 2| is due to the coil springs 3|, but when the eccentric again forces the pistons 2| outwardly and away from it this oil charge which has been sucked in will be forced outwardly with great force through the passageways 26 and into the passageways 24. As we have herebefore noted, the flow of the oil is in one direction as far as the passageways and 24' are concerned due to the ball valves 21 and 29 in the passageways 26 and 28. The great pressure with which the liquid is forced into the passageways 24 is due to the comparatively small diameter but comparatively long stroke of the pistons 2|. As the shaft H continues to rotate, the liquid will flow with great force from the passageways 24 and into and through the pipe fittings 5| and into the passageway 49 of the four-way valve fitting connection 36.

If the rotatable portion 44 of this valve is in a position as shown in Fig. 3, the liquid will flow from the passageway 49 through the passageway 45 of the rotatable portion 44 and into the head of the cylinder 33, forcing the piston 31' outwardly. This movement'of the piston 31 outwardly naturally moves the head 38 outwardly, compressing the air in the air cylinder 32 and forcing it through the pipe 6| with great force and consider-able volume, due to the diameter of the air cylinder 32 being much greater than that of the diameter of the cylinder 33. Naturally, the comparative diameter of this cylinder 32 will determine not only the volume of air being compressed, but the pressure of the same that may be reached. By making the diameter of the cylinder 32 comparatively smaller a greater air pressure will be had. Although my device as illustrated in the drawing provides an extremely high air pressure, there may be instances where even greater pressure is desired and when this is the case, the diameter of the cylinder 32 may be reduced to a point where it is even smaller than a that of the diameter of the cylinder 33. As the eccentric I4 is placed between each wt of pistons 2i, while one set of pistons is forcing the liquid into and through the pipes 5| the other set of pistons 2| is drawing liquid from the pipe fittings 52, through the passageways 25 and 28, and into the heads of their respective cylinders. With the rotatable portion 44 in the position shown in Fig. 3, the liquid will be furnished by withdrawing the same from the cylinder 35, through the passageway 48, through the passageway 46 in the rotatable portion 44, through the passageway 50, and then into the pipes 52. reaches its extreme outward sliding movement in the cylinder 32, the member 4 I, which is insulated from the head 38, contacts the contact points 43 and 42 which are insulated from the cylinder 32 and thereby completes the electric circuit, immediately magnetizing the electromagnet 54 and drawing the arm 56 into contact with the core 55.

The various parts are so arranged that this movement of the arm 56 will rotate the gear 53 and rotatable portion 44 approximately one-quarter of a revolution, thereby causing the passageway 45 to move to a position where it will be communicating with the cylinder 33 and the passageway 50, and. the passageway 46 will be communicating with the cylinder 35 and the passageway 49. Immediately upon this action the liquid pressure on the piston in the cylinder 33 will be relieved and as a matter of fact, will return the piston 31 to its normal position shown in Fig. 3, due to the fact that the oil will be withdrawn from the cylinder through the passageway and into the suction pipes 52. The coil spring 40 also aids in the return of the pistons 31. Immediately when a piston starts moving inwardly, the connection between the contact points 42 and 43 is broken and the arm 56 and ratchet arm return to a position as shown in Fig. 4. This same procedure just described is As the head 33 repeated when the head 38 in. the cylinder 34 reaches its extreme outward movement and makes electrical connection between the contact points 42 and 43 of that cylinder and each time such an electrical circuit is completed the member 44 is rotated approximately one-quarter of a revolution, thereby reversing the actions of the pistons 31 and their attendant parts. As the heads 38 move inwardly it is of course necessary that a new charge of air to be compressed be taken into the air cylinders and this is done through the one-way ball valves 63 in the outer end of each of the cylinders 32 and 34. When the air is forced out of the cylinders it passes the one-way ball valves 62 and through the pipes El. As the two heads 38 in the cylinders 32 and 34 are intermittently being moved outwardly, air will be forced out of one or the other of the pipes 61 at all times and if these pipes are joined, obviously, a continuous flow of air of great pres sure will be had.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved high pressure fluid compressor without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my*clairns any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included Within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, two cylinders, a four-way rotatable valve having a rotatable portion with two passageways extending completely through it, and a fixed portion having four branch passageways; said valve designed to have one of its branch passageways in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, one of its branch passageways acting as an escape passageway and having its two remaining branch passageways communicating with the inside end of each of said two cylinders respectively, a fluid cylinder adjacent each of said two cylinders, a piston element in each of said two cylinders, a piston element in each of said fluid cylinders operatively connected to the piston element in the cylinder adjacent to it, a spring means in each of said fluid cylinders for returning each of said pistons in said fluid cylinders to one direction of their throw at times, a means for permitting a fluid to enter each of said fluid cylinders at times, a conduit leading from each of said fluid cylinders, a means for preventing fluid from entering said cylinders through said conduits, and a means for actuating the rotatable portion of said valve each time each of said piston elements in said fluid cylinders reaches approximately its extreme movement in one direction for alternately connecting said two cylinders each alternately to said branch passageway communicating with a fluid under pressure and said branch passageway acting as an escape passageway.

2. In a device of the class. described, in combination, two cylinders, a four-way rotatable valve having a rotatable portion with two passageways extending completely through it, and a fixed portion having four branch passageways; said valve designed to have one of its branch passageways in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, one of its branch passageways acting as an escape passageway and having its two remaining branch passageways communicating with the inside of each of said two cylinders respectively, a fluid cylinder attached on one end of each of said two cylinders having a diameter substantially greater than that of the diameter of the cylinder to which it is attached, a piston element inside each of said two cylinders, a piston element inside each of said two fluid cylinders each operatively connected to the piston element in the cylinder adjacent to them, a spring means in each of said fluid cylinders for yieldingly holding the said piston elements therein to one direction of their sliding movement, a valve means in each of said fluid cylinders for permitting a fluid to enter said fluid cylinders when said spring means moves said piston elements in said fluid cylinders in one direction, an outlet conduit leading from each of said fluid cylinders, a means for preventing fluid from entering said cylinders through said conduits at any time, and an automatic means for actuating the rotatable portion of said valve each time either of said piston elements in said fluid cylinders reaches approximately its extreme movement in one direction for alternately connecting said two cylinders first to said branch passageway designed to communicate with a fluid under pressure and secondly to said branch passageway acting as an escape passageway; said passageways in said valve being so arranged relative to each other that when one of said two cylinders is in communication with the branch passageway designed to be in communication with a fluid under pressure the other said cylinder will be in communication with said branch passageway acting as an escape passageway.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, two cylinders, a four-way rotatable valve having a rotatable portion with two passageways extending completely through it, and a fixed portion having four branch passageways; said valve designed to have one of its branch passageways in communication with a source of fluid under pressure, one of its branch passageways acting as an escape passageway and having its two remaining branch passageways communicating with the inside inner end of each of said two cylinders respectively, a fluid cylinder attached on the outer end of each of said two cylinders, a piston element inside each of said two cylinders, a piston element inside each of said two fluid cylinders each directly connected to the piston element in the cylinder adjacent to it, a coil spring in each of said fluid cylinders for yieldingly holding the said pistons in said fluid cylinders toward said two cylinders to which they are secured respectively, a conduit leading from the outer end portion of each of said fluid cylinders, an electrically actuated device operatively connected to said valve capable of alternately moving said valve to a position where first one of said two cylinders is placed in communication with said branch passageway designed to be in communication with a fluid under pressure and said other of said two cylinders is in communication with said branch passageway' acting as an escape passageway, and secondly in a position where said last-mentioned cylinder is in communication with said branch passageway that is designed to be in communication with a fluid under pressure and the other said cylinder will be in communication with said branch passageway acting as an escape passageway, an electrical contact point in the outer end portion of each of said fluid cylinders designed to be in communication with a source of electrical energy, a second electrical contact point in the outer end portion of each of said fluid cylinders in electrical communication with said electricity actuated device, and an electricity conducting portion on each of said pistons in said fluid cylinders capable of engaging the two electrical contact points of the fluid cylinder in which it operates when it is positioned in the outer end portion of the fluid cylinder.

JOHN H. FEASTER. 

